Notation program?

Why don't you try Power Tab Editor it does it in both tab and notation

I have used Finale
http://www.finalemusic.com/finale/
Edit: scratch that I didn't catch your free clause.

Why don't you try Power Tab Editor it does it in both tab and notation

Can it print out only notation? If there is tab in front of me, I suspect I'll just read that first..

Finale has a free product called Notepad. I use the full-blown version, so I can't say too much about Finale Notepad other than it's free ( http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/ ).

Though I use Finale, I also tend to use Lilypond a lot, which is free and open source. Pretty sure it runs on all operating systems. ( http://www.lilypond.org/web/ )

There's pretty much three different tiers of notation software.

Free ones, like Finale's Notepad, let you save and print files with simple notation - one, two, or three staves (for say, piano and voice), and will let you play back MIDI files. They tend to be a bit limited in the notes you can use - most won't support things like septuplets or other odd divisions, and the selection of time signatures can be limited to a handful.

When you get into the paid stuff, for $50-100 you can get packages like Voyetra or Cakewalk that have expanded features for time signatures and notes. Most will also let you score multiple instruments and import files. I've used a number of these packages over the years... and frankly, the added features probably don't justify spending money unless you're scoring for an ensemble.

Above that there are packages like Finale, Igor, Sibelius... these go from $300-$1,000. If you want to score for full symphony, write in unusual time or key signatures, or have complete control over the exact placement of things - being able to adjust the space between an accidental and a note, for example - only the high end will do.

There's a page of links to music notation software packages in all of these ranges here

There's pretty much three different tiers of notation software.

Free ones, like Finale's Notepad, let you save and print files with simple notation - one, two, or three staves (for say, piano and voice), and will let you play back MIDI files. They tend to be a bit limited in the notes you can use - most won't support things like septuplets or other odd divisions, and the selection of time signatures can be limited to a handful.

Basically, I just need one staff for guitar, and only simple notes. This is purely for practice purposes. So, it sounds like I should stick to something free and simple like notepad or lilypond.

I'll try out a couple of simple free ones, thanks for all the pointers!

(PS. Are anyof them particularly better suited for guitar, in representing things like bends and slides?)

Bends and slides are usually not part of basic notation programs - unless the program is specific to guitar like GuitarPro or Power Tab. The special symbols used for each instrument is a bit too specific for a general program - and guitar isn't alone here: instruments like trumpet or harp have their own notational quirks. In fact, your choices lie only at the low end of guitar based programs, or at the high end like Finale or Igor that accomodate just about any symbol you can think of.

A really inexpensive way to practice is to get staff paper - either at a music store or printed from an online source - and a pencil. Pretty cheap, and no limitations on what you can score.

A really inexpensive way to practice is to get staff paper - either at a music store or printed from an online source - and a pencil. Pretty cheap, and no limitations on what you can score.

Tom,

You know, you have a point! Spending so much time at computers, sometimes we forget the good old fashioned way. It may be lot faster and time efficient than fooling around with notation programs.

I think there are places where I can print out staff paper, I remember some threads about that here.

I have downloaded notepad, but I'll probably go the paper/pencil route for now.

Thanks for all the different suggestions.

Well, I just tried out the free finale notepad program quickly, and it seems really really easy to use. I was up and running without reading a single help page! And faster than I could write with a pencil/paper system. So, I'll probably use a combination of that + pencil/paper, depending on when I get time to do things. (Pencil/paper don't need to be booted up:-))

(Pencil/paper don't need to be booted up:-))

Better not use a mechanical pencil then. :lol: :lol:

By the way, Power Tab does not let you isolate the notation.

Well, I just tried out the free finale notepad program quickly, and it seems really really easy to use. I was up and running without reading a single help page! And faster than I could write with a pencil/paper system. So, I'll probably use a combination of that + pencil/paper, depending on when I get time to do things. (Pencil/paper don't need to be booted up:-))

I generally use paper and pencil when composing, arranging, or transcribing, and then move to Finale or Lilypond later so I can make a nice Tiff or PDF.

Though I can use Finale to create blank staff, I'm lazy and usually just print off this site:

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/dmmc/Music/Musicpaper/

I go back and forth between paper and electronic. I've always got staff paper on hand for students - I end up writing out exercises in at least 1/3 of the lessons (although I've developed a lot of 'pre-printed' handouts for lessons, there's still a lot of individual need)

I used to do most of my writing on paper, and then go to computer for final layout... but over the last couple of years I find myself using the computer more and more for composing and arranging. There's a real advantage to the high end programs, especially for arranging - many now include lots of extra features that highlight notes in difficult ranges on an instrument, or allow for playback using 'human touch' characteristics. On the downside, the programs are only intuitive at the most basic level, so there's a fairly steep learning curve if you want to do pro quality parts.

Everyone who writes should use pencil and paper though... you'll get a better understanding of transcription.